A new church pastor who has moved from South Africa to Marlow has praised the community for giving him a “warm and friendly” welcome to the town.

Kenneth Claassen, his wife Vera and their baby son packed up and left Port Elizabeth in South Africa for a new life in Marlow around a month ago.

The pastor, who has been in the job for 15 years in his home country, has now taken up a new role at Newfield Community Church at Foxes Piece School.

With a background in drug and alcohol counselling, the minister hopes to focus on helping young children and families in the town.

Describing his move to the UK – which is the first time he has ever visited – he said he has had a warm welcome from residents.

He said: “Coming to the UK we didn’t know what to expect but people have been warm, friendly, caring and very receptive to us, as South Africans but also as a pastor. There has been a very positive response from the community and it has been wonderfully refreshing for us.

“It is great being able to walk around and really connect with community. There is a wonderful relationship between the churches, especially with Churches Together in Marlow and it has been very refreshing to have such positive relationships among the ministers and priests.

“I find it really a wonderful community. We arrived here during the Love Marlow festival and it was a lovely eye-opener to how the community can be brought together.”

The Dedmere Rise resident hopes to introduce “positive” community projects focusing on young people and families.

He said: “It is a big focus for us because there are a lot of needs that aren’t always seen. Sometimes people aren’t always open and are in need of encouragement.

“Church needs to give relevant answers to the questions that young people are asking and truthful answers - really allowing young people to ask questions that may sometimes be harsh for us to take but with honesty and sincere love for the person asking the question.”

The 34-year-old hopes his past experiences will help young people relate to him. He became a Christian aged 18.

He said: “I didn’t really have a passion for anything except maybe sport. But when I became a Christian I believe that I wanted to share a message. It was a passion for me to share a message of hope, love and grace.

“I went through a difficult time of partying and doing all sorts of things that young people do. There were a few struggles in my family that got me thinking about the meaning of life and I couldn’t find the answers to my questions at the bottom of a bottle or in a club.”